I have been taking some time to reflect over the miles covered in the past months and where to move forward. In a small town called Wall I ran across four biker’s with dirt on their faces and saddle bags weighed down, they had literally been hitting the dusty trail. It somewhat peaked my interest on the whole matter of biking. I overheard them taking about how they ate 50 miles for breakfast. There is something energizing about riding in a pack for distances at a time.

Back in my town I’m calling home Sioux Falls, I have been considering the food we have been eating and the high prices for the term “organic” which we consume. On the long stretch of road from the Black Hills to our homestead the radio tuned in and out, I caught just enough of it to hear Meat Glue and wondered what is that? Turns out they take bad, small pieces of meat and push it together with some toxic glue and mark Premium meat on it. Great, I even think that some of the organic products we buy may not be with the best guidelines but who is to say. Often when the fruit sticker reads Mexico I am a little skeptical, but I buy in good faith. Over the next weeks I am going to be diving into our food supply.

Just why is there over two hundred billboard signs for this small town. A sign for every need, want, or desire. Coffee, Free water, cheap gold, if only they had the answers for life’s hard questions up there.

We head for the hills west, on the drive I couldn’t help but think of the settlers before us. Stopped in a tiny town of 284 for lunch opened the hatch and out flew the lunch. Town was complete with one slide, some horse shoes as big as Aida’s body and yes a white picnic table for lunch.

The cabin is just out of keystone called the crossroads cabins, pure bliss tasteful style, the smell of pine seeps from the walls and silence takes hold of you.

When the challenge is over we will be saddling up for a long car ride to the back hills. Some much-needed relaxation and time to reflect and dream up our next challenge. The car is going to feel so good humming down the highway. Our destination is the road to nowhere, sandwiched in the middle a tiny cabin. My Dad flies in from Portland to spend my last night of the challenge with us, then stays on for two weeks.

I have been working on a wild west theme for the little ones lessons. Aida likes the idea of horses and Lynden wonders just what is a sheriffs badge? Found this from another blogger for the road trip, Lynden loves to see the different states. Funny I never even noticed it was from the dating divas til I started this post, I was scrambling to put things together during nap time. I am not much of a diva but I am all for making a stronger marriage and having fun which they are about.

I made some clothespin horses to work on colors and counting. Got three miles in better the weather turned ugly.